UK retail sales return to growth after lockdown exit roadmap announced March 9, 2021 UK retail sales returned to growth in February after the government revealed plans to ease the coronavirus lockdown measures. The Prime Minister set out the roadmap to exit lockdown on 22 February – with some plans reported in the preceding days – prompting shoppers to buy non-food items such as school uniforms and going out [...]
Testing our way to recovery: One firm on how they’ve navigated the Covid-19 minefield March 8, 2021 With light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel, thoughts are increasingly turning to what the ‘new normal’ might look like. Part of that may well include testing. Stuart MacLennan, CEO of testing firm Circular1 Health, tells City A.M. how they’ve operated testing sites at major manufacturing and military sites since the beginning of the [...]
Gap ‘mulling’ sale of China business March 8, 2021 Clothing firm Gap is reportedly mulling the sale of its Chinese business as one of a number of options for overhauling its operations in the world’s second largest economy. Sources told Bloomberg that the retailer was working with an adviser over and had made overtures to several potential suitors over the sale. Having entered the [...]
Banking stocks boost FTSE 100 but bond sell-off dents Nasdaq March 8, 2021 FTSE 100 starts week on high, boosted by banking stocks
Dominic Raab demands release of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi as coup continues March 8, 2021 Dominic Raab demands release of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi as coup d'état continues
Dutch to lift ban on flights and ferries from UK tomorrow March 8, 2021 The Dutch government will tomorrow lift a travel ban on commercial flights and passenger ferries from the UK, local media reported. As with many European countries, the Netherlands banned incoming travel from Britain back in January in a bid to prevent the spread of a new, more infectious variant of Covid-19. However, with that variant [...]
More than a third of the UK has had first dose of Covid-19 vaccine March 8, 2021 More than one third of the UK population has received their first dose of a Covid vaccine. The Department of Health announced more than 22m people have got their first jab. The succesful rollout of the vaccine means that people aged 50 to 59 will start receiving their first dose of the vaccine today, which [...]
North Sea firm NEO Energy snaps up Zennor Petroleum for $625m March 8, 2021 North Sea oil firm NEO Energy has this evening announced that it has bought fellow explorer Zennor Petroleum for $625m (£450m). The deal means that the independent producer will increase its regular output to 90,000 and 100,000 barrels a day over the next five years, making it one of the biggest producers focused on the [...]
Minister rules out UK Beis Department rebrand to cut out industrial strategy March 8, 2021 A government minister has said that industrial strategy will remain under the remit of Kwasi Kwarteng’s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis), despite speculation the portfolio will be dropped by the Whitehall department. It was widely reported last week that Kwarteng, the business secretary, had axed the government’s Industrial Strategy Council and that [...]
Agnelli family buy 24 per cent stake in Christian Louboutin March 8, 2021 Italy’s Agnelli family is continuing its expansion into the luxury world announcing it has bought a stake in Christian Louboutin. The dynasty has snapped up a 24 per cent stake for €541m through its holding company Exor, valuing the brand at €2.3bn. The company is set to appoint two of the seven members on the [...]
